Angry mob kills CO after double murder in UP

In a sensational incident, a circle officer (CO) was shot dead by a mob enraged by the murder of a gram pradhan and his brother in a Pratapgarh village on Saturday.

CO Zia-ul-haq, 32, incharge of Kunda police circle in Pratapgarh, along with other cops had gone to the village after the brothers, known to be close to UP cabinet minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya, were shot dead by unidentified assailants.

Additional director general (ADG), law and order, Arun Kumar confirmed the CO’s death. “The concerned inspector general and deputy inspector general have reached the spot of crime,” Kumar said, as he left for Pratapgarh.

The incident triggered tension in the area and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel along with additional police forces from other districts were deployed to avert further trouble. The slain pradhan’s supporters are still camping in the area.

According to reports, pradhan of Balipur village Nanhe Lal Yadav, 38, and his brother Surendra, 40, were shot dead around 8.30pm in Hathigawan village while they were on a bike.

Enraged with the incident, supporters of Nanhe attacked the house of one Kamta Prasad Pal who had a land dispute with the slain pradhan. They torched Pal’s house and allegedly even thrashed some women. Nanhe’s supporters opened fire on the police force, which had gone to the spot to control the situation, resulting in the CO’s death. Some cops were also injured.